Push button switch



July 17, 1962 H. F. MASON PUSH BUTTON SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 14, 1959 /A/VEA/TGR How/1x20 F.' MASON BY H/S ATTORNEYS HAee/s, K/.e-c/f, RUSSELL AE/e/v July 17, 1962 H. F. MASON PUSH BUTTON SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed DGC. 14, 1959 .Z'z'a l /24 /54 /26 f2@ /za .Fifa l5,

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United States Patent 3,045,082 PUSH BUTTON SWITCH Howard F. Mason, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Mason Electric Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 859,249 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-68) The present invention relates in general to switches and, more particularly, to a switch which operates with a snap action, produced by energy stored in a spring or spring system, to make and break contact quickly so as' to minimize arcing, which operates in a positive manner so that the movable contact snaps from one position to another without yany possibility of hesitating between such positions, which operates in this manner irrespective of how the v switch may be manipulated by its operator and irrespective of vibration, which provides a positivefeel so that, when the switch is operated manually, the operator can readily determine that the switch has advanced lfrom one position to another, which detents the movable contact into its operative positions, which provides high and uniform contact pressures, which provides isolated stationary contacts at widely separated operative positions, and the like.

Still more particularly, the invention relates to a switch which incorporates many of the features disclosed 'in my Patents Nos. 2,831,073, 2,831,081l and 2,831,082, yall granted April l5, 1958, a general object of the invention being to provide a switch which has certain particular advantages over those disclosed in such patents.

Considering the switch of the present invention in a general way, it includes: a structure providing a contact path having recesses spaced therealong and having thereon at least one stationary contact in which one of such v recesses is formed; a contact carrier movable along a carrier path adjacent the contact path; a roller contact carried by the contact carrier and engaging and .rollable along the-contact path and receivable in each of the recesses therein; resilient means biasing the roller contact into engagement with the contact path; and anactuating means -for moving Ithe contact carrier along the carrier path to roll the roller contact along the contact path, comprising pivotable means pivotable. relative to the aforementioned structure about a pivot axis spaced from the contact path, and comprising means providing a resilient, limited-lost-motion connection between the pivotable means and the contact carrier for transmitting pivotal movement of the pivotable means to the contact'carrier after limited pivoting of the pivotable means, such lostmotion connection resulting in energy storage which causes the roller contact to snap from one recess to the v next when the roller contact is forced out of the iirst recess after using upthe lost motion between the means and the contact carrier.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a switch of the foregoing nature wherein the actuating means vfor pivotable moving `the contact carrier along the carrier path includes reciprocable means for pivoting the pivotable means about its pivot axis from one operating position to -another, a related object being to provide a switch wherein spond to operative positions of theswitch 20 and, in the such reciprocable means comprises a push button means or a push-pull means. l

Another object is to provide a pivota'ble means having cam means thereon and to provide a reciprocable means having thereon cam means engageable with the cam means on 'the pivotable means to pivot the pivotable means from one of its operating positions to another in response to movement of the reciprocable means from one of it Another object is to provide a switch wherein the cam ally comprises two 'contact elements spaced apart transversely of the contact path 24 and electrically insulated position upon release of the reciprocable means, the v latter being a push button means in this instance.

Still another object is to provide means for releasably locking the reciprocable means in one of its operating positions against the action of vthe resilient means men-t tioned in the preceding paragraph, whereby the roller contact is releasably locked in a position spaced from its original position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a switch wherein the pivotable means is provided thereon with cam means for displacing the roller contact out of one of the recesses in the contact path in which it is disposed in response to pivotal movement of the pivotable means by the reciprocable means.

Another object is to provide a cam means on the pivotable means which isk engageable with projecting ends of an axle connecting the roller contact to the contact carrier for the purpose of moving the roller contact out of each of the recesses in the contact path.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the switch art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in detail herein- 'after and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a switch which embodies the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the switch of FIG. 1 which is taken along the arrowed line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIGS. 3 to 8 are section-a1 views similar to FIG. 1 and illustrating successive events in the operating cycle of theY switch of FIG. l;

Switch 20 Referring first to FIGS. rand 2 of the drawings, inustrated therein is a switch 20 comprising a housing or housing .structure 22 which provides a contact path 24 having recesses 26 `spaced Itherealong. The recesses 26 correconstruction illustnated, each of the recesses is formed in a stationary contact 28, the Vstationary contacts being electrically insulated from each other by the material of the Ahousing 22. However, if one of the positions-of the 4switch is to be merely an off position, no stationary con- `-tact corresponding to such position is necmsary, the cor-Y responding recess 26 then merely being formed-in the electrical insulating material of the contact path 24.

As shown in FIG. 2,' each stationary contact 28l actufrom eachother by the material of the housing 22. The

contactelements of each stationary contact 28 are adaptedto be bridged by a roller contact 30 to complete an electrical-circuit, the roller contact -being rollable along the contact path 24 and being receivable ineach of the Patentedy July 17, 1962 recesses 26. 'As will be apparent, the contact elements of the stationary contacts 28 maybe provided with suitable terminals, not shown, for connecting such contact elements in electrical circuits.

The roller contact `3() is mounted on an axle 32 in -a manner similar to that disclosed in my aforementioned Patent No. 2,831,082. The roller contact 38 is disposed between the arms 3S of a U-shaped contact carrier 34 and the respective ends of the axle 32 extend through and project beyond the respective arms of the contact carrier. As will become apparent, the contact carrier 34 is movable along a carrier path adjacent the contact path 24 so as to roll the roller contact along the contact path from one of the recesses 26 to the next.

The switch 28 includes actuating means for moving the contact carrier 34 along the carrier path so as to move the roller contact 30 along the contact path 24 from one of the recesses 26 to the next. Such actuating means includes a pivotable means or pivotable member 36 which is connected to the housing 22 by a pivot pin 38 extending transversely of and spaced from the contact path 24 so that the member 36 is pivotable relative to the housing 22 about a pivot axis extending laterally of and spaced from the contact path. The pivotable member 36 includes arms 40 which receive the contact carrier 34 therebetween. The contact carrier 34 is provided with a pivot pin 42 which parallels the base 44 of the contact carrier and which extends through the arms 35 of the contact carrier into slots 46 in the arms 40 of the pivotable mem ber 36, such slots extending radially from the axis of the pivot pin 38 for the pivotable member 36. The purpose of the slots 46 is to permit the contact carrier 34 to move radially relative to the pivot pin 38 as the roller contact 30 moves into and out of the recesses 26 in the contact path 24. The switch 20 includes resilient means for biasing the roller contact 30 into engagement with the contact path 24, such resilient means being shown as comprising a compression spring 48 disposed in a recess 50 in the pivotable member 36 and seated against the base 44 of the contact carrier 34.

There is a resilient, limited-lost-motion connection between the pivotable member 36 Iand the contact carrier 34 which, as hereinbefore outlined, transmits pivotal movement of the member 36 to the contact carrier after limited pivoting of the member 36, the lost-motion connection mentioned resulting in energy storage which causes the roller contact to snap from one of the recesses 26 to the next when the roller contact is forced out of thetirst recess, in a manner to be described, after using up the lost motion between the member 36 and the contact carrier. The lost motion between the member 36 and the contact carrier 34 is limited by a cam means which, as shown in FIG. 4, also serves -to force the roller contact 30 out of one of the recesses 26 in which it is disposed. This cam means is formed by providing the arms of the member 36 with openings providing cam surfaces 54 respectively engageable with the projecting ends of the axle 32. The cam surfaces 54 have a radius less than the distance between the pivot pin 38 and the contact path 24 land the center of such cam surfaces is located closer to the contact path than the pivot pin 38. Consequently, 'as the member 36 is pivoted about the pivot pin 38, the cam surfaces 54 limit relative pivoting movement of the member 36 and the contact carrier 34 and also lift the roller contact 30 out of the recess 26 in which it is disposed in opposition to the action of the spring 48.

As will be apparent, when the contact carrier 34 rocks relative to the pivotable member 36 into a position such as that shown in FIG. 5, yfor example, the spring 48 engages one edge of the base `44 of the contact carrier so as to tend to pivot the 'contact carrier relative to the member 36 back into its original position. Thus, the energy stored in the spring 48 tends to cause the roller contact 30 to jump from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 7.

Additional energy storage is provided by means of a torsion spring 56 coiled around the pivot pin "42 and having arms 58 extending `therefrom in opposite directions. As shown in FIG. 4 for example, when relative pivotal movement of the `contact carrier 34 and the member 36 occur, one arm 53 of the spring 56 is engaged by one edge of the base 44 of the contact carrier and the other arm 58 engages a stop 60 on the member 36. Thus, the spring 56 is stressed in a direction to tend to restore the contact carrier 34 to its original or neutral position, shown in FIG. 3, relative to Ithe member 36. As will become apparent, the energy stored in the spring S6 thus assists in causing the roller contact 30 to jump from one recess 26 to the next once the lroller contact leaves the recess in which it is disposed. In some instances, the spring S6 may be omitted, the energy stored in the spring 43 being sufficient to cause the desired jump of the roller contact 30 from one recess 26 to the next.

The actuating means for the Contact carrier 34 includes, in addition to the pivotable member 36 and the resilient, limited-lost-motion connection between this member and the contact carrier, a reciprocable means or member 62, the latter being a push button in the embodiment under consideration. The push button 62 is reciprocably mounted in the housing 22 and is biased toward one of its operating positions by a compression spring 64 seated at one end against `an annular shoulder 66 on the push ybutton and at its other end against an internal annular flange 68 on the housing 22. A shoulder 70 on the push button 62 is engageable with the ilange 68 to limit outward movement of the push button.

The push button 62 carries arms 72 which receive the pivotable member 36 therebetween and which are provided with slots 74 receiving and extending radially from the axis of the pivot pin 38. The slots 74 permit the push button 62 to move between its operating positions relative to the pivot pin 38.

The arms 72 are also provided with inclined cam slots 76 which receive projecting ends of two axially aligned cam pins 78 carried by the pivotable member 36. As will be apparent, when the push button `62 is moved inwardly, the cam slots 76 and the cam pins 78 cooperate to pivot the member 36 in the counterclockwise direction about the axis of the pivot pin 38. When the push button 62 is moved outwardly Vby its spring 64, the cam slots 76 and the cam pins 78 pivot Ithe member 36 in the opposite direction.

Operation of Switch 20 Normally, the various components of the switch 20 occupy the positions shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. When the push button 62 is displaced inwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, the pin and slot connection 76 and 78 between the push but-ton 62 and the member 36 causes this member to pivot in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 38. However, the spring 48 acting on the contact carrier 34 maintains the roller contact 30 in the recess 26 in which it was originally disposed, although the cam surfaces 54 acting on the ends of the axle 32 are beginning to lift the roller contact 30 out of such recess in FIG. 4. The resultant rocking of the contact carrier 34 relative `to the member 36 increases the stress in the spring 48 and also stresses the spring 56, due to the fact that one yarm of the spring 56 is engaged by one edge of the base 44 of the contact carrier 34 while the other arm 58 of the spring 56 is restrained by one of the stops 60 on the member 36.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the push button 62 has been moved inwardly to a greater extent and the member 36, -as la result, has been pivoted farther than in FIG. 4. rIlhe contact carrier 34 has rocked relative to the member 36 to the maximum extent and the cam surfaces 54 have just lifted the yroller contact 30 out of the recess in which it was disposed. At this point, the springs 48 and 56 are stressed to their maximum extents.

Turning now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, the energy stored in the springs 48 and S6 has caused the contact carrier 34 and the roller contact 30 to jump in the counterclockwise direction in `an eiort to catch up with the member 36, the roller contact beingabout ready to drop into the next recess 26 in the contact path2-4. Meanwhile, the inward motion of the push button 62 has continued to continue the counterclockwise pivoting of the member 36.

Referring to FIG. 7, the push button 62 has now reached the inner end of its travel, thereby pivoting the member 36 to its maximum extent and into a position in radial alignment with the right recess 26, the roller contact 30 having by this time been forced into the right recess by the spring A45.*. The roller contact 30 will remain in the position shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings as long as the push button 62 is held in the position shown in this iigure in opposition to the action of the spring 64.

Upon release of the push button 62, however, the spring 64 will cause the roller contact 30 to return to the left recess 26. The action of the switch 20 in returning the roller contact 36 to the left recess 26 is similar to, but the reverse of, the faction in moving the roller contact from the left recess to the right one, the beginning of such reverse action being illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings. Consequently, a `detailed description of the reverse action `of the switch 20 is notlnecessary Switch 720 Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a switch 120 which is substantially identical to the switch 20, the components of thel switch 120 being identified by reference numerals higher by one hundred y than the reference numerals utilized to identify the cor- Y to receive the pins 17S, as shown in FIG. 9, to maintain the roller contact 130` in the right recess 126 in opposition to the action of the spring 164.

The switch 120 operates in the same manner as the switch 20. To releasably lock the roller contact 130 in the right recess 126, .the push button 162 is released slowly after it has been move-d .all the way into its inner position. This permits the pins 178 to enter the notches 177.

When it is desired to release the locking means formed by the pins 178 and the notches 177, the push button 162 is again moved inwardiy to its inner position, as shown in FIG. 10, thereby disengaging the pins 178 vfrom the notches 177. v released suddenly, which prevents reentry of the pins 178 into the notches 177 so that the spring 164 returns the roller contact 130 to the left recess 126, as shown in FIG. 1l of the drawings.

If it is desired to prevent releasably locking the roller contact 130 in the right recess 126, it is merely necessary to release the push button 162 suddenly, instead ofV slowly.

In all other respects, the operation of the switch 120 is the same as that of the switch 20 so that a further description is not required.

Switch 220 Referring lto FIG. 12 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a switch 220 which is again substantially identical to the switch 20', the components of the switch 220 being identified by reference numerals higher by two hundred than the reference numerals utilized to designate corresponding components of the switch 20. Therefore, a full description of the swi-tch 220 is not necessary.

Thereupon, `the push button 162 is 258 extending through an aperture 245 in the base, 2144 of the con-tact carrier 234. As will be apparent, each edge of `the aperture 245 is adapted to engage the corresponding spring arm 258 upon relative vrocking of the contact carrier 234 and the pivotable member 236 'to move such spring arm toward the other spring arm, which is restrained by the coil spring 248. Thus, the torsion spring 256 is stressed to store energy to assist in causing kthe roller `contact 2130 to jump from one recess 226 to the next.

'In all other respects, the operation of the switch 220 is the same as -that ofthe switch 20, wherefore no further discussion is needed.

Switch 320 Illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings is a switch 320 which is also substantially identical to the switch 20 so that the components of the switch 320 do not need to be described in detail,` such components being identified by vreference numerals higher by three hundred than those utilized to identify corresponding components of the switch 20.

The switch 320 differs from the switch 20 only in substituting a push-pull knob 362 Ifor the push button 62 and in omitting the spring y64 associated with the push button 62. Thus, when the components of the switch 320 are shifted from the positions of FIG. 14 to those of FIG. 13 by pushing inwardly on theI knob 362, as shown in FIG. 13, they will not return automatically to the position of FIG. 14. In order to return the components ofy the switch 320 to the FIG. 14 positions, it

lis necessary to pull outwardly on the knob 362, as shown .in FIG. 14. In all other respects, the operation of the switch 320 is the same yas that of the switch 20.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein lfor purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spiritof the invention 'as dened by the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a switch, the combination of: a structure providing a contact path having vrecesses spaced therealong and having thereon at least one stationary contact in which one of said recesses is formed; a contact carrier movable :along a carrier path adjacent said contact path; a roller contact carried by said contact carrier yand engaging and rollable along said contact path and receivable in each of vsaid recesses; means biasing said roller contact into engagement with said contact path; pivotable means pivota'ble relative to said structure about a pivot axis spaced from `said contact path for moving said contact carrier along said carrier path; means providing a 'resilient limited-lost-motion connection between said pivotableV and having thereon at least one stationary contact in which i one of said recesses is formed; a contact carrier movable along a carrier path adjacent said contact path; a roller contact carried by said contact carrier and engaging and rollable along said contact path and receivable in each of said recesses; means biasing said roller contact into engagement with said contact path; pivotable means pivotabletrelative to said `structure about a pivot `axis spaced from said contact path 'for moving said Contact carrier along said carrier path, said recesses facing generally toward said pivot axis; means providing a resilient limitedlost-motion connection between said pivotable means and said contact carrier for resiliently displacing said contact carrier along said carrier path after a predetermined amount of pivotal movement of said pivotable means; reciprocable means reciprocable relative to said structure for pivoting said pivotable means about said pivot axis; and cam means on said pivotable means and acting on said roller contact for moving said roller contact generally toward said pivot axis, and thus out of one of said recesses in which it is disposed, in response to pivotal movement of said pivotable means about said pivot axis.

3. In a switch, the combination of: a structure providing a contact path having recesses spaced therealong and having thereon at least one stationary contact in which one of said recesses is formed; a contact carrier movable along a carrier path adjacent said contact path; a roller contact carried by-said contact carrier and engaging and rollable along said contact path and receivable in each of said recesses; means biasing said roller contact into engagement with said contact path; pivotable means pivotable relative to said structure about a pivot axis spaced from said contactpath for moving said contact carrier along said carrier path, said recesses facing generally toward said pivot axis; means providing a resilient limitedlost-motion connection between said pivotable means and said contact carrier for resiliently displacing said contact carrier along said carrier path after a predetermined amount of pivotal movement of said pivotable means; and cam means on said pivotable means and acting on said roller contact for moving said roller contact generally toward said pivot axis, and thus out of one of said recesses in which it is disposed, in response to pivotal movement of said pivotable means about said pivot axis.

4. In a switch, the combination of z a structure providing a contact path'having recesses spaced tberealong and having thereon at least one stationary contact in which one of said recesses is formed; a contact carrier movable along a carrier path adjacent said contact path; a roller contact carried by said contact carrier and engaging and rollable along said contact path and receivable in each of said recesses;an axle connecting said roller contact to said Contact carrier and having projecting ends; means biasing said roller contact into engagement with said contact path; pivotable means pivotable relative to said structure about a pivot axis spaced from said contact path for moving said contact carrier along said carrier path, said recesses facing generally toward said pivot axis; means providing a resilient limited-lost-motion connection between said pivotable means and said contact carrier for resiliently displacing said contact carrier along said carrier path after a predetermined amount of pivotal movement of said pivotable means; and cam means on said '8 pivotable means and engaging said projecting ends of said axle for moving said roller contact generally toward said pivot axis, and thus outo't. one of said recesses in which it is disposed, in response to ;pivotal movement of said pivotable means about said pivot axis.

5. In a switch, the combination of: a structure providing a contact path having recesses spaced therealong and having thereon at least one stationary contact in which one of said recesses is formed; a roller contact engaging and rollable along said contact path and receivable in each of -said recesses; means biasing said roller contact into engagement with said contact path; means, including pivotable means pivotable relative to said structure about a pivot axis spaced from said contact path, for rolling said roller contact along said contact path, said recesses facing generally toward said pivot axis; and cam means on said pivotable means and acting on said roller contact for moving said roller contact generally toward said pivot axis, and thus out of one of said recesses in which it is disposed, in response to pivotal movement of said pivotable means about said pivot axis.

6. In a switch, the combination of: a structure providing a contact path having recesses spaced therealong and having thereon at least one stationary contact in which one of said recesses is formed; a contact carrier movable along a carrie; path adjacent said contact path; a movable contact carried by said contact carrier and engaging and movable along said contact path and receivable in each of said recesses; spring means engaging said contact carrierand biasing said movable contact into engagement with said contact path; pivotable means consisting of a single lever pivotable relative to said structure about a pivot axis spaced from said contact path for moving said contact carrier along said carrier path; means providing a resilient limited-lost-motion connection between said vlever and said contact carrier for resiliently displacing said contact carrier along said carrier path after a predetermined amount of pivotal movement of said lever; a reciprocable member reciprocable relative to said structure in directions perpendicular to said pivot axis; and cam means on said reciprocable member and said lever for pivoting said lever about said pivot axis.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,416 Bates Ian. l2, 1926 2,095,179 Douglas Oct. 5, 1937 2,668,204L Tregoning Feb. 2, 1954 2,769,050 Bourne Oct. 30, 1956 2,831,082 Mason Apr. 15, 1958 2,952,750 Mason Sept. 13, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 107,838 Sweden July 6, 1943 765,795 Great Britain Jan. 16, 1957 

